Closing date for applications to the programme is the 3rd of September 2017.

Macra na Feirme’s Young Farmer Skillnet has announced the launch of its Young Beef Farmer Sustainability Programme in association with Dawn Meats.  The programme is designed to help ambitious young farmers to develop their farming skills, their business and commercial awareness.

Dawn Meats and Macra Young Farmer Skillnet are inviting young farmers to apply for a place on the programme, which runs for 8 months and will equip participants to:

Analyse and evaluate their own business and to make choices for future growth and efficiency;

Understand the customer requirements in the retail marketplace and how as beef farmers they can meet those requirements;

Identify practices on their individual farms that can enhance sustainability and profitability;

Share and communicate the knowledge gained from the programme with their fellow young beef farmers;

Perfect their communication style when dealing with people – from farm staff and contractors to the bank manager.

Speaking at the launch of the programme Paul Nolan, Dawn Meats said: “With a proud tradition of producing the most succulent grass-fed quality assured beef on our Irish family farms, Dawn Meats is delighted to work with Macra’s cohort of young beef farmers as they embrace the opportunities for efficient and sustainable beef production into the future.”

James Healy, National President of Macra na Feirme said: “This initiative is an exciting opportunity for young beef farmers to help them improve the efficiency, sustainability and margins of their farms. By participating in this Skillnet training, young beef farmers from across the country will gain a deeper understanding of the beef industry from farm to fork.  We would encourage all young beef farmers to apply for this programme and we wish to thank our partners Dawn Meats for their support and assistance with this initiative. The Young Beef Farmer Sustainability Programme will give our young beef farmers the confidence to undertake on-farm projects that add value to their beef farming enterprise. It is a very exciting development for our Skillnet training offering.”

Applicants can apply for the programme online at www.macra.ie/YBFSP Places are limited so applicants should apply early before the closing date the 3rd of September 2017.  

The successful participants will be introduced at the National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, Tullamore, Co. Offaly in September.